Exercising is most beneficial when you challenge yourself and work up a good sweat. With spring quickly approaching, exercise can become challenging because of allergy symptoms caused by spring blooms. Don’t let your seasonal allergies hold you back from moving your exercise routine outside. Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your workouts and take advantage of the warmer weather.
- If you’re just starting to exercise, spend the first few weeks exercising indoors. This allows you to build up your physical health before addressing any allergy symptoms.
- Remember to take your allergy medication as prescribed to protect yourself from outdoor allergens.
- If you take allergy shots, don’t do any strenuous activity for one to two hours post-injection. Vigorous activity increases your heart rate and blood pressure, leading to a more rapid absorption rate of the medication, which can cause side effects.
- Make sure to monitor the weather. Changes in temperature, wind, humidity or precipitation all affect pollen counts. Remember, pollen counts are typically lower in rainy, cool conditions in the evening.
- Spend at least five minutes gradually warming up to acclimate to the outdoor conditions.
Participate in allergy-friendly exercises outside. Any activity that involves a high level of movement and increases your breathing rate can trigger an allergic reaction. Focus on activities that have gradual, steady movements without a lot of huffing and puffing.